Floor sweeping composition



Patented Oct. 26, 1954 2,692,861 FLOOR SWEEPING GOMPOSITION Clarence 0. Weeks, Lon

g Branch, Ontario, Canada, assignor to The Patent and Licensing Cor- N. Y., a corporation of poration, New York,

Massachusetts No Drawing. Application May Serial No. 159,855

Claims.

This invention relates to compositions designed for use as floor sweeping compositions.

Floor sweeping compositions are conventionally comprised of finely divided solid material and a moistening or wetting agent. In use, these compositions are scattered over the floor preliminary to the sweeping operation, to enable the composition to pick up and hold dust and dirt accumulated on the floor so that the floor may then be cleanly swept by the action of the broom. By thus causing the dust and the dirt to be accumulated on the sweeping composition, the sweeping operation may also be performed without the rising of dust under the action of the broom.

The finely divided inert material used in floor sweeping compositions generally consists of sawdust or mixtures thereof with sand in suitable proportions. The wetting or moistening agent most commonly used is an oily material capable of causing dust on the floor to adhere to the finely divided carrier material such as the sand and sawdust. In the conventional floor sweeping compositions, the oily material consists of par-ailin oil or similar hydrocarbon oils.

While floor sweeping compositions formulated from ingredients of the character above indicated are suitable and have been extensively used for sweeping wood floors as well as floors made from cementitious materials, such as terrazza, or the like, it has been found that they are not suitable for use as sweeping compositions on floors made from composition tile of the kinds that have come into wide use in recent years. These composition tiles are generally made with binders consisting of asphaltic or resinous materials, combined with fiber, filler and coloring matter. It has been observed that when these composition floor tiles have been subjected to repeated exposure to contact with the conventional types of floor sweeping compositions, the tile eventually becomes attacked and is caused to soften, apparently as a result of the action of the oil component of the floor sweeping composition. Efforts to prevent such deleterious action of floor sweeping compositions upon these composition tiles have been directed towards the use of relatively hard waxes of one kind or another as the dust gathering ingredient of the sweeping composition, but these floor sweeping compositions, heretofore proposed, have not been found altogether satisfactory in actual use, or they are too costly for the intended use.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a floor sweeping composition formulated so as to serve this purpose efiiciently, whether the composition be used for sweeping composition tile floors or floors made of wood, cementitious or other known material.

It is a more specific object of the invention to provide a floor sweeping composition that can be used on asphalt or similar composition tile floors Without causing any softening or other damage thereto when repeatedly used thereon and that will eificiently accomplish its purpose as a floor sweeping composition.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide a floor sweeping composition of the character indicated, that will not lose its effectiveness even when stored for long peirods of time before use.

According to the invention, the above objects are accomplished by combining pulverulent materials, preferably sand and sawdust, in suitable proportions, with certain solvent extracts of petroleum oils. The extracts used in accordance with the invention are those obtained from petroleum oils by the use of selective solvents such as dichlorethyl ether, phenol, cresol, furfural, nitrobenzene, liquid sulphur dioxide, chloraniline, or the like. These extracts contain aromatic or other non-parafiinic hydrocarbons and are substantially free of paraihnic hydrocarbons. Various forms of such extracts are available commercially as products produced in the oil refining industry. The physical properties of the extracts vary somewhatydependin primarily upon the nature and physical properties of the oil extracted, the nature of the solvent used in the extraction process, the conditions of the extraction process and the treatment given the extract after removal of the solvent therefrom.

With the foregoing in mind, I have found that floor sweeping compositions suitable for use on I asphalt or similar composition tile floors, may be made by combining with sawdust and sand, suitable proportions of those of the aromatic or essentially non-paraffinic petroleum extracts which are characterized by a relatively high viscosity, and by sharp change in viscosity with change of temperature.

More specifically, in accordance with the invention, there may be employed solvent extracts of petroleum, possessing, or which are treated to possess, a viscosity within the range of about 1000 to 75,000 seconds Saybolt Universal at F., and a viscosity within the range of about 100 to 1000 seconds Saybolt Universal at 210 F. The preferred extracts are also further characterized by a pour point not above about 75 F., preferably within the range of 25 F. to 75 F.

I have found that when the aforesaid extracts, having the viscosity characteristics indicated, are used in proper proportions, they may readily be distributed intimately over all the surfaces of the pulverulent. material of the floor sweeping composition, viz., the sand and the sawdust, and they impart to the composition optimum effec- Oil Company and designated by the name Dutrex No. 20. Still others are the petroleum extracts known as Indonex 633 and Indonex 638 marketed by The Standard Oil Company of Indiana.

In the following tabulation there are shown certain physical properties of each of the abovementioned extracts, significant in the use of these extracts for the preparation of the floor sweeping tiveness in use, by reason of the tacky or sticky lo compositions embodying the invention.

Seconds at 210 F. (approx) Viscosity, Saybolt Universal, 45,00050,000 21,000. 5, 000 60, 000-65, 000

seconds at 100 F. (approx).

Pour Point, F below 75 below 75. 35 70 Secific Gravity 0.9820.997 1.03 0.9958 1- nature of the thin films of the extract, at normal room temperatures, these thin films on the particles of the pulverulent material rendering the composition very effective for catching and holding the dust on a floor. At the same time, the relatively high viscosity of the extract insures against its being rubbed off the particles of the pulverulent material so as to make the surface of the floor sticky during or after sweeping or to have any other detrimental or objectionable effect. Furthermore, by reason of the non-drying chemical nature of the extract, it does not lose its effectiveness by any drying action during prolonged periods of storage of the composition. In the preferred composition, of which a specific example will be given below, additional moistness is provided by including common salt as an additional' ingredient. Furthermore, the physical propertiesof the extract employed in accordance with the invention, and the degree to which it is distributed over the particles of solid pulverulent material, are such that these particles do not become aggregated into hard lumps when stored over long periods of time, but will remain in discrete, readily usable condition at all times.

Besides possessing the foregoing characteristics, the floor sweeeping composition made according to the invention possesses the important characteristic that it exerts no softening or other deleterious action upon asphalt composition or similar composition tile upon repeated usage of the composition thereon. In fact, I have found that the preferred grade of extract I have employed, even when it is in direct contact with such composition tile over a period of many days, exhibits only a very minor softening of the surface of the tile. Whether this inertness of the extract toward the components of the tile is due to the aromatic or non-paraffinic nature of the extract or to the molecular weight of its components or to other causes, is uncertain. The fact remains, however, that by the use of these extracts, there may be provided a floor sweeping composition which, in contrast to floor sweeping compositions available prior to my invention and conventionally containing paraffin or similar hydrocarbon oils, has no softening or other deleterious effect upon floor tile made with asphaltic, resinous or similar binders.

As above indicated, a number of extracts possessing the characteristics suitable for use in accordance with the invention are commercially available. One such material which I have found suitable for use, is the product known as Nuso 250 marketed by Standard Oil Company of New Jersey. Another is an extract marketed by Shell Utilizing the extracts such as those above identified, floor-sweeping compositions possessing the desired properties may be prepared by mixing sawdust and sand in the proportion of 2 to 5 parts by weight of sawdust to each part of sand, and then mixing the extract with the sand-sawdust mixture, in proportions of about one part of the extract per 2 to 4 parts of the sand-sawdust mixture.

As above indicated, it is desirable to include in the composition a suitable proportion of common salt to impart additional moistness thereto.

Floor sweeping compositions, according to the invention, may comprise the above-mentioned ingredients, in percentages by weight, within the following ranges:

Per cent by weight Sawdust (hard wood) 40-50 Sand 10-15 High viscosity solvent extract 20-26 Common salt 16-20 Within the ranges indicated in the foregoing, the precise proportion of the extract employed. will be governed primarily according to its viscosity. Minor variations in the amount of extract employed may be necessary, depending upon the variations in the absorption properties of the hard wood sawdust, which in turn will depend upon the species and origin of the hard wood.

A floor sweeping composition, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, is composed of the following:

Per cent by weight Sawdust 45.0 Sand 13.0 Nuso No. 250 23.0 Common salt 18.0 Iron oxide 0.8 Dipentene 0.2

In the foregoing specific formula, the iron oxide is included as a coloring pigment and the dipentene serves to impart a desired odor to the composition.

The sawdust is preferably of a grade sized through a 10-14 mesh sieve.

The sand employed in the composition may be any clean sand of 40-60 mesh grading. The particle size distribution of the sand in the specific formula above set forth is as follows:

Per cent Retained on a 65 mesh Tyler sieve 25 Retained on an mesh Tyler sieve 10 Retained on a 200 mesh Tyler sieve 65 In compounding the product from the ingredients above set forth, the dry ingredients are all added to a suitable type mixer and mixed to a uniform appearance, whereupon the extract,

heated to a temperature of 180-275 F., is introduced into the mixer while the latter is running and the mixing continued until the extract is uniformly distributed over the surfaces of the particles. Although it is preferred that the mixer be steam jacketed so that heat may be applied thereto in order to assist in bringing about rapid uniform distribution of the extract over the particles, it is possible to accomplish this without heating the mixer, if suflicient mixing action is available, so long as the ingredients are at a temperature not below approximately 70 F.

It will be understood that various modifications may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention, the specific embodiments herein set forth being by Way of illustration and not by way of limitation.

I claim:

1. A floor sweeping composition comprising a major proportion of a pulverulent carrier and a lesser proportion of a non-parafilnic oil extract distributed upon the particles of said carrier, said extract being derived from petroleum oils by selective solvent extraction thereof and being characterized by a Saybolt Universal viscosity of 1000 to 75,000 seconds at 100 F., and 100 to 1000 seconds at 210 F., said composition being in the form of discrete particles and having substantially no softening action upon asphaltic and resinous surfaces even upon prolonged exposure thereto. 1

2. A floor sweeping composition comprising 2 to 4 parts by weight of a pulverulent carrier comprisin sawdust and sand, and 1 part by weight of a non-parafiinic oil extract distributed upon the particles of said carrier, said extract being derived from petroleum oils by selective solvent extraction thereof and being characterized by a Saybolt Universal viscosity of 1000 to 75,000 seconds at 100 F. and 100 to 1000 seconds at 210 F., said composition being in the form of discrete particles and having substantially no softening action upon asphaltic and resinous surfaces even upon prolonged exposure thereto.

3. A floor sweeping composition comprising to by weight of a pulverulent carrier, 20 to 26% by weight of a non-paraffinic oil extract distributed upon the particles of said carrier, and 16 to 20% by weight of common salt, said extract being derived from petroleum oils by selective solvent extraction thereof and being characterized by a Saybolt Universal viscosity of 1000 to 75,000 seconds at F. and 100 to 1000 seconds at 210 F., said composition being in the form of discrete particles and having substantially no softening action upon asphaltic and resinous surfaces even upon prolonged exposure thereto.

4. A floor sweeping composition comprising 40-50% by weight of sawdust, 10-15% by weight of sand, 16-20% by weight of common salt and 20-26% by weight of a non-parafiinic oil extract, said extract being derived from petroleum oils by selective solvent extraction thereof and being characterized by a Saybolt Universal viscosity of 1000 to 75,000 seconds at 100 F. and 100 to 1000 seconds at 210 F., said composition being in the form of discrete particles and having substantially no softening action upon asphaltic and resinous surfaces even upon prolonged exposure thereto.

5. A floor sweeping composition consisting essentially of 40-50% by weight of sawdust, 10-15% by weight of sand, 16-20% by weight of common salt and 20-26% by weight of a non-parafiinic oil extract, said extract being derived from petroleum oils by selective solvent extraction thereof and being characterized by a Saybolt Universal viscosity of 4500 to 5500 seconds at 100 F., said composition being in the form of discrete particles and having substantially no softening action upon asphaltic and resinous surfaces even upon prolonged exposure thereto.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 803,632 Singer Nov. 7, 1905 881,859 Hegyi Mar. 10, 1908 892,754 May July 7, 1908 966,060 Severns Aug. 2, 1910 2,319,942 Miller May 25, 1943 

1. A FLOOR SWEEPING COMPOSITION COMPRISING A MAJOR PROPORTION OF A PULVERULENT CARRIER AND A LESSER PROPORTION OF A NON-PERAFFINIC OIL EXTRACT DISTRIBUTED UPON THE PARTICLES OF SAID CARRIER, SAID EXTRACT BEING DERIVED FROM PETROLEUM OILS BY SELECTIVE SOLVENT EXTRACTION THEREOF AND BEING CHARACTERIZED BY A SAYBOLT UNIVERSAL VISCOSITY OF 1000 TO 75,000 SECONDS AT 100* F., AND 100 TO 1000 SECONDS AT 210* F., SAID COMPOSITION BEING IN THE FORM OF DISCRETE PARTICLES AND HAVING SUBSTANTIALLY NO SOFTENING ACTION UPON ASPHALTIC AND RESINOUS SURFACES EVEN UPON PROLONGED EXPOSURE THERETO. 